ALKHOBAR: Pottery workshops, cooking classes, candle-making sessions and escape rooms are replacing cafes and restaurants as the go-to social outing for a growing number of Saudis, reflecting changing leisure habits as experience-based businesses continue to expand across the Kingdom.
Rather than simply meeting over coffee, many groups of friends are choosing activities where making, creating and solving problems become part of the outing itself.
The businesses themselves are diverse, but the idea behind them is the same: Consumers are increasingly paying for participation rather than passive entertainment.
The trend comes as Saudi Arabia continues expanding cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities under Vision 2030.
Through the Quality of Life Program, the Kingdom aims to improve quality of life by increasing participation in cultural and leisure activities while supporting private-sector investment in these areas.
